Southwest IL COVID-19 rate nears threshold that could bring back dining restrictions
The COVID-19 positivity rate for Metro-East Region 4 moved near a state-set threshold that could mean the return of tighter restrictions for the area.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the metro-east’s seven-day rolling average positivity increased from 7.4% Tuesday to 7.6% Wednesday. If the region were to surpass 8% for three consecutive days, recently eased restrictions could be re-implemented in the metro-east.
The state eased restrictions on restaurants, bars and social gatherings on Oct. 9, after the metro-east saw its positivity rate fall below 6.5%. The rate has since increased seven straight days and has been at or above 7% for four consecutive days with a drop from 7.2% on Sunday to 7% on Monday and 7.4% Tuesday, according to data reported by IDPH.
Region 4 includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Washington, Clinton and Randolph counties.
The state’s positivity rate data is delayed by three days, so the rate as of Oct. 18 was the most recent data available Wednesday.
The region also reached its highest level of hospitalizations since late April, with 111 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 13 individuals on ventilators.
The region’s hospital bed capacity was at 31% Wednesday and its ICU capacity was at 49%.
If the region’s hospital capacity threatens its surge capacities, meaning if the ICU capacity of hospital bed capacity falls under 20%, new restrictions could also be enacted by the state.
“That’s always the pattern. A certain number of cases will go on to be hospitalizations and a certain number of hospitalizations will go on to be deaths,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike. “So, the more cases, the more eventually you will get to more deaths. The spike in cases we’ve been seeing over the last six weeks, yes, unfortunately, it is turning into additional mortalities.”
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Wednesday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
New cases: 4,342 (+628)
New deaths: 69 (+28)
New tests: 66,791 (+7,714)
Total cases: 355,217
Total deaths: 9,345
Total tests: 6,950,105
Hospitalizations: 2,338 (+77)
People in ICU: 502 (+13)
People on ventilators: 194 (-1)
Statewide positivity rate from Oct. 14-20: 5.7%
Wednesday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
This data is as of 5 p.m.
New cases: 149
New deaths: 3 (St. Clair County reported a man in his 60s and a man in his 90s died. Both men had unknown health conditions and Clinton County reported one new death. No information was released on the individual who died in Clinton County.)
Daily positivity rate as of Oct. 18: 8.9% (-0.1%)
7-day rolling average as of Oct. 17: 7.6% (+0.2%)
Hospitalizations: 98
Patients on ventilators: 9
Hospital bed availability: 31% (+4.0)
ICU bed availability: 49% (+3.0)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 1
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 62 new positives, two new deaths, 674 new tests administered.
Total overall: 8,603 positives, 219 deaths, 107,176 tests administered, 7,819 recoveries, 54 patients hospitalized with 6 of those patients on ventilators
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 5.7% (-0.4%); 7-day average — 5.4% (-0.1)
Additional data: The county’s new cases included people under the age of 10 to people in their 80s. Of the 62 new cases, 46 were of people in their 40s or younger.
Congregate living facilities: One new case at Brightly Senior Living
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 40 new positives, 782 new tests administered, seven additional hospitalizations
Total overall: 6,944 positives, 152 deaths, 94,250 tests administered, 3,495 recoveries, 37 patients hospitalized with 6 of those patients on a ventilator
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 8.3% (-0.2%); 7-day average — 8% (no changes)
Additional data: The county’s new cases included people under the age of 10 to people in their 80s. Of the 40 new cases, 18 were of people in their 40s or younger.
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 23 new positives, one new death
Total overall: 1,663 positives, 25 deaths, 1,396 recoveries, 10 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 18.9% (+4.1%); 7-day average — 15.4% (+2.1%)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 25 new positives
Total overall: 1,212 positives, 15 deaths, 15,352 tests administered, 1,071 recoveries, 3 hospitalizations
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 9.1% (-2.0%); 7-day average — 7.7% (no changes)
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 11 new positives
Total overall: 887 positives, 27 deaths, 7 hospitalizations, 669 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 4.8 (-12.4%); 7-day average — 6.3% (-0.3%)
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 4 new positives
Total overall: 481 positives, 10 deaths, 21,294 tests administered, 1 hospitalizations
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 20% (-0.7%); 7-day average — 17.9% (+1.1%)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 9 new positives
Total overall: 288 positives, 1 death, 266 recoveries, 15 hospitalizations
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 26.1% (+13.6%); 7-day average — 9.1% (+1.7%)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 788 positives, 13 deaths, 414 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 8.0% (-0.5%); 7-day average — 10% (+0.6%)
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 459 positives, 21 deaths, 402 recoveries, 7,552 tests
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 3.1 (10.1%); 7-day average — 9.8% (+0.4)
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 414 positives, 16 deaths, 356 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 0% (-5.8%); 7-day average — 10% (+0.2%)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 72 positives, 67 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 18: Daily — 0% (-3.2%); 7-day average — 21% (+0.1%)
State, nation, world statistics
Here are the latest available statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus map as of Wednesday afternoon:
- Illinois: 355,217 cases, 9,345 deaths, 6950,105 tests
- U.S.: 8,282,666 cases, 221,247 deaths, 3,295,426 recoveries
- World: 40,932,220 cases, 1,126,637 deaths, 27,970,472 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
These are free COVID-19 testing options in the following locations.
- Thursday, Oct. 22: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 S. Belt E. (drive-thru).
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville West High School, 4063 Frank Scott Parkway (drive-thru).
No appointment is necessary. Masks are required.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also offers free walk-up and drive-thru COVID-19 testing seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until capacity limits are met each day) at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, Argonne Drive in East St. Louis (Interstate 64 west, exit 4A).
Capacity is limited. Hours of operation are subject to change based on available equipment. For more information, visit dph.illinois.gov/testing.
Additionally, Touchette Regional Hospital and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation offer daily testing in Belleville and Wood River. Call 618-646-2596 for an appointment.
Get the latest news on coronavirus
BND.com will keep you updated throughout the day with information about the spread of the coronavirus in southwestern Illinois.
You can also find the most complete and up-to-date information from government sites including:
- State of Illinois’ COVID-19 page: coronavirus.illinois.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html
- Federal government’s coronavirus page: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Who to call about mental health
Here are some resources from mental-health professionals for anyone struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Illinois Human Services Mental Health Division’s Call4Calm: Text the word “talk” to 552020 to text with a mental-health-care professional for free.
- Centerstone of Illinois Inc.: Call 618-462-2331 for virtual mental-health services.
- Chestnut Health Systems: Call 618-877-4420 for virtual mental-health services.
- Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous: Call 618-398-9409 or email metroeastnapr@gmail.com to learn about virtual meetings.
- Regional Disaster Mental Health Volunteer Response Team: Call a support line for health-care professionals at 618-381-5173.
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This story was originally published October 21, 2020 at 1:44 PM.